The impact of a younger diagnosis
Through my work I occasionally visit primary schools and I recently found myself sitting with an eight-year-old in a particularly rambunctious class who taught me a very interesting lesson. Whilst the class was well organised and the teacher in control, twenty excitable eight-year olds in an extra-curricular class was bound to be a little noisy.
All of a sudden, without any explanation the little girl got up, went to the other side of the room and retrieved some headphones which she put on and returned to our little desk and the task in hand. Obviously as an Aspie I understand why she did what she did so as to mitigate external noise, but it was the way she did it with such natural ease I realised that children today are so lucky to be able to be recognised in such a way where their needs are met.
This caused me to reflect on my own childhood, as an ‘80s child I never had the luxury of any diagnosis of neurodivergence
Whilst a highly sociable child, and as a girl probably masking a lot, when I reflect on my growing up, it was largely down to attending eccentric schools with very small classes which probably saved me from experiencing too many problems associated with neurodiversity. Had the situation been different I may not hold the cherished memories of school as I do. The only negative I can see to nurturing and facilitating for a child on the spectrum at school, as is the case now, is that the grown-up world may be jarringly different where such kindness and understanding may not always be present.
However on balance, I could have avoided some upsetting instances had it be known I was on the spectrum and while my talen